Really appreciate the time you took to break it down for me. I appreciate the opportunity to learn new things about this hobby. Thank you.Hi again,
I too wish I was closer to where you are. Alas...different sides of the country.
Thanks for entertaining my questions and I guess it is as I suspected, more or less. It is nice to have large tanks to be able to have groups of large fish such as the Leporinus spp. I have had both fasciatus and brunneus, but as solo specimens. I don't have any now.
Regarding male/female for the dollars. The various genera and species of SD's mostly can all be sexed in the same way, although individual species do have some differences.
However, in general, the outer edge of the anal fin of males is "bilobed" (2 "lobes or tips", the first being about midway on the edge of the anal fin, the second being the actual tip of the fin, or 'hook'). In females, there is an absence of the first "lobe", such that the edge of the fin is almost completely straight. In the clip below (your photo), 2 females (top) and two males can be seen (bottom).
In Emperor Blue Hooks (your SD's) there is not much difference in coloration of the anal fin in the two genders, although in females it is more silver, while in males the silver is more faint. In contrast, in several other species, the anal fin of females is much more colorful. Further, in some dramatic cases such as with true Red Hooks ("Myloplus rubripinnins" - the quotes because it is now being re-interpreted as an unresolved complex of several species), females have a huge red Hook, whereas the anal fin of males is bilobed, much less long, and almost colorless.
Good luck with your cichlid grow-outs, pairings and with the SD sale. I do wish I could.
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I have 9 aureus and 6 Nanoluteus coming along with a group of 10 X Alvarezi. Hoping they fill the tank up without overcrowding the tank. Trying to keep a light bioload but I’m realizing I’m already going pretty heavy. Plan is to reduce the need for water changes considerably. Hoping the refugium with a ton more plants helps with that with a dosing regime of dry ferts and a few bags of crushed coral in the sump to keep the mineral content of the water good enough to minimize the water changes.Really loving these tanks. You could have a really big group of areus in there. Also add another group of thorichthys and/or a cribroheros like robertsoni. Would make a colorful, active, peaceful CA set up w/ no aggression. Smaller species really thrive in big tanks.
Gotcha, that’s a lot of fish. Can’t wait to see them grow ?I have 9 aureus and 6 Nanoluteus coming along with a group of 10 X Alvarezi. Hoping they fill the tank up without overcrowding the tank. Trying to keep a light bioload but I’m realizing I’m already going pretty heavy. Plan is to reduce the need for water changes considerably. Hoping the refugium with a ton more plants helps with that with a dosing regime of dry ferts and a few bags of crushed coral in the sump to keep the mineral content of the water good enough to minimize the water changes.
I’m not sure since I got it second hand.mrrobxc Sorry if it has been stated already, but who manufactured the 600 gallon? I am looking to get a large tank made in the next couple years and yours looks really nice!